Cursor

Cursor is an AI-powered code editor built to make your coding life a whole lot easier. It’s a special version of VS Code, but instead of just adding AI tools on top, Cursor has AI integrated deep into the core. That means everything from writing to debugging to reviewing code works more smoothly with AI’s help.

One of the coolest things about Cursor is how smart it feels. It gives you suggestions through the Cursor Tab that seem to understand what you’re trying to build. You can even write code using plain English. Just describe what you want—a new function, changes to a class, whatever—and it’ll generate it for you. When bugs show up, you don’t need to switch tabs or hunt through Stack Overflow. You can literally talk to the AI in the editor and get answers fast. And if you upload a file like a CSV or a chunk of your codebase, Cursor will use that context to give better, more relevant help.

Getting started with Cursor is easy. Just download it from the official site, install it like any normal app, and then customize it to match your style. You can choose which AI model you want to use for code suggestions, depending on what fits your project best.

To get the most out of Cursor, it helps to learn a few shortcuts—like hitting Cmd + K (or Ctrl + K on Windows) to quickly open the AI chat. Keeping your projects clean and well-structured also goes a long way, since Cursor uses your entire codebase to make smart suggestions. And if you’re working with a team, Cursor has some great built-in review features that help keep everyone on the same page.

Compared to other tools like GitHub Copilot, Cursor stands out because it’s not just an extension. It’s a full editor that’s been built around AI. The experience is smoother and more cohesive, kind of like how Apple devices work seamlessly with each other. Everything just feels more connected.

Of course, there’s a bit of a learning curve. Even though it’s based on VS Code, Cursor adds enough unique features that it might take a little time to get used to. Uploading files to give the AI more context is super helpful, but figuring out the best way to do that takes practice. And while debugging is easier overall, getting the most out of AI suggestions can take some trial and error.

If you really want to level up your workflow, Cursor has some powerful tricks. You can create a .cursorrules file in your project’s root folder to guide the AI on how to write code that matches your standards. You can also use the Composer tool when you’re juggling multiple files, which is especially helpful when writing components and tests at the same time. And for team projects, having everyone follow shared rules through Cursor helps keep your code clean and consistent.

Cursor also offers several AI models to choose from. GPT-4 is the most advanced and great for tough problems. GPT-4 Turbo is faster but still super capable. Claude 3.5 Sonnet is a solid alternative with its own style. And then there’s Cursor-Small, which is optimized for speed and gives you unlimited access—perfect when you just want quick help without waiting around.

Whether you’re prototyping a new feature, doing deep debugging, or just trying to learn better coding habits, Cursor has a lot to offer. Once you get the hang of it, it’s like having a superpower built into your IDE.